BACK FROM MY DANUBE CRUISE

I am back from my cruise on the Danube. I just post one collage because I am very tired the return flight was a mess, In short we got up at 6 am spent hours in  airports and before walked around in Bucarest, and were home at 1 pm. I think I never will take a plane again ! From Bucarest to Brussels I it should take at the most 2 h flight, but with all these checking in waiting hours and delays, I think it's quicker to walk or take a train !

On top of being tired I am also down, it is the the first anniversary of Rick's death. One year now, without him, time flies by so quickly.

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

From Monday til Friday it rained every day and as I am not a frog or a fish it was rather depressing. On top of that I was stressed I thought I would explode or at least my head I had so many things to think of. I don't remember what I have done each day, but it was not the packing of the suitcase which put me in this state, but all the things I had to think of ! When Rick was still there, I just packed my suitcase and of I went. He drove me to the airport and picked me up on my return.

Now I had to think of finding somebody to take care of Rosie, to make a list of everything which has to be closed and done before I leave, pay all invoices and order a taxi. 

I still found a bit of time to say good bye to Nicole, who is much better and again normal, she was sitting together with all the others around a big table and they celebrated "Mother's Day" ! Normally it's on the 14th but there probably a few children will show up. Not all residents get visit from their children, excuse : too busy, gone on holidays, all excuses are good. I can understand, it's very hard to see their parents decline each time a bit more. I know, I went through it. I don't even know how I managed it.

But now I am looking forward to my cruise !

We have to be ready at 4 am ( poor me) and then a taxi will take us to Brussels airport, where we meet the other participants. Then we fly to Munich in Germany and take a bus to the next port. And then the fun starts ! We will be sitting, or laying in our beds and look at the beautiful landscape until Bucharest in Romania. Of course there are lots of stops where we take a Bus to visit the cities. This is the perfect way for seniors to see a lot and don't move a lot. Of course you can't do that several times per year ! It makes a hole in your wallet but it is worthwhile at least I hope so. You never know your own feelings or reactions.

and these two I put in my suitcase

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HODGEPODGE MAY 11

 1. Did you watch the coronation of King Charles III? Share some of your thoughts about that, or about the royal family in general. 

 

Honestly as I had to get up very early for my cleaning lady I watched the whole ceremony from beginning to the end. It was a welcomed distraction as since Rick's death I suffer from travel fever and am rather stressed. I never had that before ! In my opinion it was very well organized and done. My favorite person in the whole royal family is little George ! He is always so natural and funny !

2. What are you the uncrowned queen of? 

 

 

The only thing which comes into my mind are cats ! We both loved cats and during our marriage we had 6 ! These were the last once before Rick's death.

Now she is "my queen"

3. In a box of chocolates which one do you usually go for? 

I am not a fan of chocolate or anything sweet, but I would go for black chocolate

4. Something learned at your mother's knee? 

To dress as I want and do my make up for myself, to feel well and nice, and not for others 

5. 'Like mother, like daughter'...in what way is this saying true for you? 

Nothing fits, I am just the opposite of my mother, a cuckoo's egg. She was short and round, I was tall and slim, she had brown hairs, I am blond. She always had to depend  on somebody and was the servant of my father. I have always been very independent and my husband and I were a team and completed each other.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

My head is full of things I have to do before I go on the cruise ! I never had "travel" fever before, because I had a controller behind me who asked me all the time "do you have this, do you have that, don't forget .... and he got on my nerves ! Now I wished he would, but I am alone to think about not to forget something. I also had to book a taxi to take us to Brussels airport, Rick did that usually. and  to find a cat sitter for Rosie, as my old girls here in my building don't want to take the responsibility, and Adeline now 85 last time forgot to close the windows (I don't know why she opened them, it was 1°C outside) and didn't clean Rosie's litter box. Fortunately, only 3 days.This time I will be away for 12 days and of course I don't have trust any more.

 

 

 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

I have been three times in Morocco and liked the country very much. Here I visited a ceramic factory and watched how the finished items were painted ! 

more participants here, and Image-in-ing

AWWW MONDAY - WEEKEND MAY 7

 

Little Leia, the new dog of my Grandson, and here I found a photo of the mother, the father was a Golden Retriever !

AWWW MONDAYS 

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WEEKEND

When Saturday morning at 8 am Maria showed up, I was already in London and watched the preparations for the coronation of King Charles III. My airplane and seat in front of the church and then the Buckingham palace was on my sofa 

In the UK it was one hour earlier and London was already full. There were people who camped there since two days !  

and then the golden  carriages  arrived ! It was like in a fairy tale and I saw myself driving to the nearest supermarket and doing my shopping.

When this huge amount of colorful soldiers, guards or whatever arrived, it looked very impressive, but I thought about the poor men who certainly had to go to the toilet, but when, they were all marching in rows and it would have been difficult to break out !

As the rain was pouring on their bear hats they must have been very heavy if the rain had soaked in. The whole looked wonderful I thought I was in a big very special show.

The screens which were put around the King, I found really very beautiful, It would even fit in my living room. They were there so that the public couldn't see him during a religious procedure

when the screens were taken away, I saw him there standing in a short nightgown, or was it a white shirt ? It looked a bit funny compared to what he was wearing before and after the coronation

I believe that this coronation was good for everyone to finally see or live a real "fairy tale" and not just always pictures of wars and miseries. I only know the UK who kept the very old coronation tradition, all other countries which have  a king or a queen, don't wear a crown and there are not such a huge show.

Queen Camilla adjusted the crown herself, apparently it was not right on her head !

and then the ceremony was finished and King and Queen followed by a long line of family and people.

We also could see the next King, with his Queen and children, except the oldest one, George who had to work, by carrying the King's long train. My personal favorite is darling little Louis, who is so cute and natural, he makes even the saddest person funny again.

I had seen the coronation of Queen Elisabeth, it was the first time in my life that I went to a cinema ! I was 10 years old ! Nobody had a TV in 1953. 

I spent the whole day watching, and waited for a moment when it was not very interesting for me to go there where the King also uses his feet and not a car or carriage. The whole ceremony of the coronation was perfect. Compared to his mother's it was simple but not too simple and certainly far more cheerful and funny. All people seemed happy. Of course there are always some who are against a monarchy (here too) but all in all there was no special incident. 

On Sunday it rained I prepared some stuff for my cruise, starting next Sunday and stated that my bathing suit has shrank a bit ! It's three long years I didn't use it ! And then I prepared the photos I had taken.